A ROMANCE IN COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13207, 14 February 1905, Page 5

A ROMANCE IN COURT.

(Pee United Pkess Assooiatios.) AUCKLAND, February 13. Mr Justice Edwards had a delicate little love affair to straighten out in the Auckland Supreme Court this morning. The prisoner at the bar was a quarter-ca6t« Maori youth named Ernest Martin, who was charged with abducting - a Maori girl of H years named Ngawai Tana. He pleaded "Guilty." According to his counsel (Jlr Mabpny), the littlo affair occurred at Matakolie-, where Ernest was courting Ngiwai's eister. In Ngawai's heart there grew up feelings of fondness for this young man, and tho fondness was refleoted in her behaviour towards him with such effect that he became- fasciShe put herself in his way so much that his affection for, the elder sister cooled, and when at last she suggested an elopement the transfer of his affections became complete. They started across country for a neighbouring Native settlement. They were under the impression that there was no reason why the girl should not do so. Thoir flight was discovered, and they wero overtaken and brought back to Matakohe. Hero the would-be, bridegroom was charged before the magistrate with abducting a girl under tho legal age, and he was committed for trial. He married tho girl, with the full consent of the- parents on both sides. Tho accused youth had now become a member of the girl's family, and the couple had been living on the property of the bride's father, wlio owned considerable property. The position of the caee now was that tho husband was in court as an accused man and the wife as a possible witness against him. Counsel asked his Honor to allow a little sentiment to penetrate even into a court of law, so that those- young people might begin thoir married! life under favourable conditions. Any wrong clone to the girl had been righted in an honourable way. His Honor asked "that the girl should comn forward, that ho might see her. After his Honor had epoken to her, the girl's father, Honi Tana, was examined on catb, and stat-ed that ho consented to the marriage under the pressure of accused's parents. Neither tho father, tho Nativo interpreter, nor tho Native lay preacher who married the young couple could inform his Honor that a marriage at 14 years wns in accordance with Maori ideals of proper morality, and his Honor therefore deferred his decision till next Friday, in order that the Rev; W. Gittos Suggested by Mr Mahony) might bo examined as to Maori customs,